Auto Parts -- Wheel & Tire Parts

Wheels and tires are parts that car owners sometimes interchange, but they are completely different parts. The wheel is the part that connects to the rest of the car to provide the forward motion, and the tire is the rubber portion that cushions the wheel from road surfaces and provides traction.

Buying Auto Parts -- Looking for Different Kinds of Wheels

Although there are many different kinds of wheels out there, and different hubcaps to match, most cars now have alloy wheels. The wheels are held in place by lugnuts, and wheels or hubcaps cover this central area.

You can find a huge selection of wheels, wheel covers, and hubcaps on the internet. Many small mom-and-pop type stores have grown up around the craze of hubcap collecting, and many of these shops now order or stock wheels as well as hubcaps that are either new or used (often found on the road). Many of these small shops specialize in vintage automobile wheels as well as certain makes and models of cars. Wheels need more than cleaning for maintenance. They need alignments and balancing as well, and often need parts checked or replaced that come into

contact with them.

Shopping for Auto Parts -- Choosing the Right Tire

If you have ever purchased tires, you know how confusing this can be at first. When you walk into the tire store, the first thing to greet you besides the heavy smell of cars and rubber is the enormous selection. But really all you need to know is the size, speed rating, and kind of tread you want. All this will help determine the price you pay for your tire.

Width of Your Tire

This is not as daunting as it seems. The width of the tire is in millimeters, so the wider the tire the higher the number. While some consider it more stylish to have wider tires, remember that they have a greater tendency to skid—the weight of the car is distributed over a wider contact area with the road.

Speed Rating

This is the last letter in the tire’s designation.

Q=99 mph top speed
S=112 mph
T=118 mph
U=124 mph
H=130 mph
V=149 mph
Z=over 149 mph
W=168 mph
Y=186 mph

While most people would not need tires rated over Q, some cars require higher rated tires for normal and safe operation. Make sure you check your manufacturer’s recommendation on which rating of tire to use, and make sure your tires are supplied and installed by a reliable tire dealer. And make sure you check what kind of tread you need for your type of driving—some treads, like those designed for dry surfaces, will not work as well as treads designed for mud or water.